I think hard before deciding to at least look for the lemonade stand. But am very cautious because it might be a trap. I slip onto main street and look for automatons. There they are, like usual. There’s too many to attack with this thing. I think, fingering my pistol. I’ll go around them. I sneak by them and sure enough, there is a lemonade stand, with the words, “Lukas Lemonade”, in big yellow letters. Ok, so it’s there. So time to get out of here. I turn to leave, but something inside me tells me to check it out. I sigh, and turn back. Then I tiptoe up to it and stare at it. Looks a bit corny. I examine it looking for lemons or something, but just find a button. I gently push it and..... the whole thing jerks and slides over to reveal a secret door. Purple smoke spills out. I take my badge off and put it in my pocket and step inside.

As I was walking down the street towards my place, I was singing a malady. Until I saw a cat, as it was climbing up a wall, I thought to my self 'hmm, what if a person had claws on hands and feet and can do that without using too much energy with fingers'? It hits me, I can. I stared running towards the Lukas workshop, got past the door and made blueprints of a design.

'The metal will have to be in really strong if it is to withstand huge amount of force and getting wear, tear and chipped. I started to make the skeleton of the gauntlet and Lukas Cogsworthy started to take notice of my blue prints. 'Galvanised gear-levers! What is that'? I answered 'This is a blueprint of something I am making. I call it the 'claw gountlet', but I can't figure out how to make it incredibly strong'. He suggested why not just infuse it with aether'? I look at him in surprise 'You can do that'? He said 'Move aside'.

he started to shove me to the side as he stared putting aether and other stuff I was not counting on installing in it. I look nervously across the table from him as I try to understand what he is doing. 'Um, Lukas, what are you doing? That Vapor condenser and clockwork furnace is not in my blueprint. And what's with the magnets, I don't need it' he replied well working 'you will when the springs and mini rockets have been released' I widen my eyes 'what Rockets? I don't want to fly'. He looks at me and said 'You can just sort those parts over there well I work on upgrades' he points to the pile of parts at the corner of the workshop.

'But I want to make this design' he looks at with excitement 'and I want to be the one that gets to make something that is new and make it better the best way it can and more' 'can't argue with that logic' I thought to myself. I went to the pile and started sorting it out. After 30min, he finished it and he urgently got me to wear them. I was going to put it on until he stopped me. 'Wait, you need this too. They are heat and cold prof gloves'. We were getting ready for a test it until the door to the shop opened. I looked and saw a familiar face. It was badcop.

Lukas looks at him and said 'Hello badcop. The scarlet man told me you would be coming today. You are just in time' as I was putting the gauntlets on. 'This is surprisingly light'. And Lukas was speaking proudly 'of course it is. Aether infused metal will make your design lighter and stronger. It is equipped with fire setting, cold setting, tractable and armer piercing claws and gauntlet launchs. I was getting use to the claws as badcop was approaching.

I stared inside in surprise. It’s huge! It looks very strange, that’s for sure. I had never seen such tech. I looked and saw a rather thickly set man, bending over a bench working on something. Next to him is @Emman_Jumpsong1. Arg. That guy is everywhere! “Hello, Badcop.The Scarlet Man told me you would be coming today. Your just in time.” Said the first man. I walked up and saw that they were trying some device out. “You Lukas?” I said. “Yes I am! And you’re my new apprentice!” He said excitedly. “Apprentice? For what?” I said shocked. “Why, to be an inventor!” He said. “But! But, I’ve never built anything in my life!” I spluttered. “Well break me gears!” He exclaimed, “ I see I have my work cut out for me then! Let’s get started. Hrmm let’s see, you had better start by reading all about a ether and the Scarlet Man. There’s a book shelf up those stairs.” Lukas pointed out the stairs and turned back to Emman. “But..I.... OH BOTHER!” I turned and practically stomped up the stairs and sat heavily down in a chair, twitching with frustration. Lukas ignored me, thankfully. After calming down for a few minutes, I turned and started flipping through one of the books. Hmm interesting.

As I was getting us to the gauntlet, I decided to know what it does. 'Lukas, I am ready for the tests'. He turns towards me and said 'ok, quickly spread your fingers'. I did it and nothing happened 'fast then that' I did it again and claws came out. My eyes widened. 'Oh yes. This is great'. 'Good, get up where Badcop is without using the stares. I look at the site and thought of a idea. I went to the wall and started gripping my claws into it and started climbing, One move at a time. I went to the library, climbed over the rail then walked to badcop. I was looking at what he was reading, and it looked like next level tech. He looked very focused. I was about to ask him something until Lukas said for me to climb up the wall, cross the ceiling then climb back down. So I dug my claws into the ceiling and monkey bared across to the other side of the room, then climbed down.

I went to Lukas and he looked please. 'Now for test 2, close your right fist fast'. I did and it went on fire. I panic, shaking my hands around, Lukas was looking at me, waiting for me to calm down. I look at him, then the gauntlet and noticed I wasn't getting burnt. 'Said you needed the gloves, right? Now you know why. Test 3, close you left fist hand twice fast'. I did and it went on ice. I couldn't fell the temperature of either one. 'Now for the final test. Test 4, aim for a broken spare in this shop' I found two at the other side of the room and aimed 'so, what now' he replied 'Spread your fingers apart twice, and keep your arms straight. I did, then they fired off may hands and grabbed the parts.

I got a fright. The fire was making the part glow red and the ice was freezing the part into a cocoon . 'Ok, bring them back. Flick your fingers, and get ready to catch them' 'that's why you put magnets in the gauntlet' I asked. He said yes. I did, and they came flying to me. I caught them both at the same time, but wasn't ready for the empact, cause they made me fall on my back. Lukas stood over me and asked 'You ok'? I nodded, trying to breath. He said 'to turn them off, same way you turned them on. Enjoy the rest of you day. I am going to check on my new apprentice'. He walks up the stares well I roll around groaning, trying to recover from the empact. 'These are going to get be some time to get use to'.

I put the book down, having read enough. I watch as @Emman_Jumpsong1 runs all around the shop doing crazy things that even I, think are foolhardy. (Such as climbing the roof.) after he practically kills himself grabbing things, Lukas comes up to see how I’m doing. “Find anything useful to know?” He says. “Yeah, I think so, but I still don’t see how you intend to make me able to build stuff. I mean, wouldn’t somebody else be better?” I say doubtfully. “Nonsense! The Scarlet Man always picks the right ones! Now, what are you good at? I’m sure a man of your age is good at something.” Lukas waits for an answer. “Well...” I say, trying to remember everything that the empire and police force had said was good about me. “ I’m a pretty good airship pilot, a good fighter, an excellent shot, I’ve been trained in self defense and escape tactics, and I’m good at getting things done as well as getting others to get things done.” I said rather proudly. “Hrm.. and what are you bad at?” Lukas says testily. I was rather taken aback. “Is that really necessary?” “Sprockets and springs! Of coarse it is! We have to know both you’re strengths and you’re weaknesses!” I sighed. “I have a bad temper, am impatient, and am terrible at inventing.” Lukas looked pleased. “Good! Owning up to you’re weaknesses is the first step. All those things can be fixed in time, if you are willing. Now, how about we start with the basics. We’ll start by upgrading your weapons. What do you have?” “I have a pistol..” I said producing the weapon. Lukas examined it. “Let’s see, standard empire make, no fog, and almost out of ammunition. Not good my apprentice! We need to get you some decent weapons! Let’s get started by upgrading this one.” After long minutes of too much information, I had succeeded in making an upgraded riveter pistol. “Good! Good! Apprentice! You learn fast. Come back tomorrow and I’ll teach you more.” I turn to the door and remember that I have no place to stay. “Uh.. hey Lukas, I don’t exactly have a safe place to stay toni-” “Say no more! I was expecting this and you can stay in my workshop, if you don’t mind resistance people milling in and out every once in a while.” I was surprised. “ Thank you Lukas.” I turned to the door to leave, and realized that Emman was still hanging about.

I recover from my new invention and got back on my feet. 'Hi badcop. Want to see what these gauntlets can do on the field? I can let you have a go'. Taking one off and passing it to him well waiting for a replie.

“Yeah sure. Just as long as I don’t kill myself like you almost did.” I gently take the proffered weapon. “How’s it work?” @Emman_Jumpsong1 briefs me in on how the gauntlet works. “Why don’t you try to scale the wall?” Emman asks. “Like you did? I don’t think so. Thanks for showing me how it works though, but I have some other stuff to do.” I gave Emman the best smile I could, which was sorta a half grin, and went out the door for business. Time to find out about that mysterious owner, @MissyVonheart._ I figured I’d stop by the shop to get something to eat, and find as much out about her as I could. I walked in the door, and ordered a mug of cocoa from @Lila_Lightcraft. Then I sat down in a corner and started comparing notes. She dissapeared, and her name is missy. And that Gustav knows something about this, so next thing ta do is question him.

I called Lukas on my new communication device, and told him I’d be back late. Then I walked out side, slipped around back, and got ready to steak out for until Gustav came out at the end of the day. I couldn’t just ask him a bunch of questions or he wouldn’t answer them. So, I had to wait.

@Gustav_Jollycabbage finally walked out the back door, whistling after the days work. I slowly rose in the dusky sunset light, and said, “Good evening, mr Gustav.” Gustav jumped. “Who’s ther?” “Oh you remember me, I came to inspect the shop yesterday. I just want to find out about the owner, for curiosity’s sake. What do you know about her? Why did she disappear? And so on and so forth. Oh, and I’m against Lucky so you don’t have to worry if she is running from him. Then I thought that if I was going to be with the resistance, that I should respect other peoples business. This is going to be a hard change. Then I added, “But of course, if you don’t want me to know, I guess it doesn’t matter.” It will just drive me crazy to have a random cliffhanger in this situation. I waited for Gustav to reply, thinking he would probably decline. Obviously, missy had disappeared for her own good. But I wanted to know if she was a bandit or something. Maybe she had gone for the same reason I was looking for the borders? Who knew, except maybe the man in front of me.